Distributing mechanism for pressure concrete transportation systems



Dec. 24, 1935. c. LONGENECKER DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM FOR PRESSURE CONCRETE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS Filed May 18, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sum/M11 41 Dec. 24, 1935. c. 1. LONGENECKER DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM FOR PRESSURE CONCRETE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS Filed May 18, 1934 S Sheets-Sheet 2 gwOc/wbo o Chas. [L orggezechsv;

awn/M1130 1935- c. l. 'LONGENECKER 2,025,689

DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM FOR PRESSURE CONCRETE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS Filed May 18, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 24, 1935 PATENT OFFICE DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM FOR PRESSURE CONCRETE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS Charles I. Longenecker, Wauwatosa, Wis., as-

signor to Chain Belt Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 18, 1934, Serial No. 726,392

8 Claims.

This invention relates to pressure pipe line transportation systems for plastic concrete mixtures and the like, and more particularly to apparatus for facilitating the distribution of the mixture as it leaves the pipe line, and has for one of its objects to provide mechanism of this character which will be simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and more efficient in use than those which have been heretofore proposed.

There has been recently developed a system of concrete distribution wherein the plastic mixtures of all commonly used consistencies and V proportions of ingredients are pumped by means of mechanical pumps through closed conduits of forced over horizontal distances up to 1,000 feet or more. The distribution of the concrete mixtures as they leave the pipe line presents certain problems and heretofore has involved considerable hand labor, and it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for facilitating such distribution of the mixtures as they leave the line.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate like parts in all the views:-

Figure l is a top plan viewpf one form of the invention positioned to receive concretemixture as it is discharged from the end of a pipe section of the conduit, such pipe section being indicated in broken lines;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 1, the pipe section being shown in full lines;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken approximately on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows,

' Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan View of the parts shown in Figure 4 certain of the parts being omitted for the sake of clearness;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 2, of a somewhat modified form of the invention positioned to receive plastic concrete mix- 5 ture from an intermediate port in the pipe line; and

Figure 8 is a sectional elevational View taken approximately on the plane indicated by the line 88 of Figure '7. 10

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive there is illustrated a pipe section It! forming a portion of a conduit leading from any suitable pressure inducing means capable of forcing the concrete mixture therethrough, the open end ll of which forms a discharge port from which the mixture issues. These pipe sections are commonly supported in any suitable manner some distance over the ground or the form into which the mixture is to be deposited, such supports however, not being here illustrated. Mounted upon the. pipe section II) is a trolley structure l2 which in this form of the invention is shown as comp-risinga longitudinally extending tubular member or pipe I3 provided with a pair of transversel extending spaced members l4 and I5, each of which comprises a pair of spaced plates: l6 and I1 which may be welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the longitudinal member I3.

..The transversely extending member M as is best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 is shaped to extend upwardly beneath the pipe section I!) and is provided with a pair of rollers l8 Which are adapted to engage the lower portion of said pipe section. The said rollers are directly carried by a. substantially rectangular framework l9 located between, the plates [6 of the member and journalled therein by means of a shaft or tube 20 for oscillation about an axis parallel to that of the pipe section It.

The transverse member l5 as is best shown in Figures 3 and 4 is substantially C-shaped to extend upwardly andpartially embrace the pipe section l0 and its upper portion'receives a rectangular frame 2| journalled for oscillation about an axis parallel to that of the pipe section ID by means of a shaft 22, which frame carries a pair of rollers 23 adapted to engage the upper portion of the outer surface of the pipe section I0. fThe plate members ll of the transverse member l5 are preferably maintained in suitable spaced relationship by means of spacing websor members 24, 25 and 2B welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto.

The longitudinal member l3 of the trolley structure extends somewhat beyond the transverse member I5 and adjacent its extreme end is provided with a hook 28 swivelly connected thereto. A trough or chute 30 having a hopper 3| at one end is adapted to be hung upon the hook 28 by means of an eye 32 carried by a transverse bracing bar 33 positioned within the hopper 3| and welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the side walls thereof, as will be clear from Figures 1 and 2. A pair of substantially horizontal arms 35 have their forward ends 35 secured to the chute 30, and suitable angularly disposed brace members 3'! extend from the free ends 38 of arms 35 to the hopper end of the said chute. A counter-weight 39 is attached to the ends 33 of arms 35, said counter-weight being of appropriate size to counter-balance the chute 30 so as to normally maintain it in substantially the position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In use the trolley structure I2 is placed upon the pipe section and the chute 3B is suspended therefrom by engagement of the eye 32 with the swivelled hook 28. The concrete mixture issuing from the discharge port ll of pipe IE will be received within the hopper 3! and due to the inclination of the chute 38 will flow down the same to the lower end from which it will be discharged. Owing to the swivel connection between the chute and the trolley structure, the said chute may be swung horizontally to discharge the mixture over a comparatively wide area.

If desired a deflector member 40 may be pivotally attached to a pair of ears 41 carried by brace member 25 of the trolley structure so that it may be positioned as shown in Figure 2 to defleet the mixture downwardly and into the hopper 3|. If the deflector 40 is not necessary it may be swung in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot to an inoperative position above the pipe section It), as will be readily understood. If it be desired to discharge concrete directly from the pipe line Without using the distributing chute the trolley structure l2 and the chute may be moved toward the left as viewed in Figures 1 and 2 to remove the chute from below the discharge port II, the pipe section Ill serving as a track for the trolley structure.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures '7 and 8 the trolley structure [2 is quite similar to that previously described except that the horizontal member l3 takes an inverted channel form and is downwardly inclined toward the right as viewed in Figure 7. At the extreme right hand end of the member It there is secured a ball or nubbin 45 which is adapted to be readily removably received in a suitable recess 46 provided in a block 41 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the under surface of the chute 30. There is thus provided a somewhat different form of universal connection between the chute and the trolley structure which permits of swinging movements of the chute in all directions as will be readily understood.

In lieu of the counter-weight illustrated in the other form of the invention, there is shown in Figures 7 and 8 a skid construction for the lower end of the chute 3.0 which comprises a pair of plate members 50 which may be detachably secured to the sides of the chute 3|] and which have welded or otherwise rigidly secured to them the laterally extending tubular members to which are rigidly secured the downwardly extending tubular members 52. Said members 52 slidably receive the upwardly extending members 53 to which is attached a horizontal skid member 54 adapted to rest upon the ground or other surface, as will be clear from the drawings. Brace members 55 are provided between the chute and the lower ends of members 52, and the upwardly extending members 53 are maintained in adjusted relation to the members 52 by means of suitable bolts 56, passing through cooperating spaced holes 5'! formed in the members 52 and 53. It is possible by sliding the members 53 in or out of the members 52 to vary the height of the skid structure and therefore the inclination of the trough 30,

as will be readily understood.

The invention is illustrated in Figures '7 and 8 as being positioned to receive the mixture from a port 68 located between the ends of pipe section H! but it is obvious that it is also adapted to receive concrete from the end discharge port II, and also that the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 may be employed to receive the mixture from an intermediate port 60 if desired. It is also obvious that the skid structure, and counterweight structure illustrated, are interchangeable in the different forms of the invention.

It will be observed that the supporting connection between the trolley and the chute, permitting adjustment of the latter, is located sufficiently to one side of (a direction which I herein term forward) the supporting connections between the trolley and the pipe to permit the chute to be adjusted along with the trolley relative to the discharge port of the conduit so as to receive material therefrom without any interference from the parts of the trolley.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of'construction as well as the precise arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore it is not wished to be limited to the above disclosure except as may be required by the claims. 7

What is claimed is:

1. In a pressure transportation system for plastic concrete mixtures, a closed high pressure conduit having a. discharge port said. conduit comprising pipe sections connected by enlarged joints; a trolley structure readily removably mounted upon'said conduit; and a distributing chute mounted by said trolley structure for horizontal swinging movements, said trolley being longitudinally movable upon said conduit whereby said chute may be moved to and from a position in which it may receive the mixture from said discharge port and said trolley being readily removable from one pipe section and replaceable on another pipe section whereby interference by said enlarged pipe joints is avoided.

2. In a. transportation system for plastic concrete mixtures and the like, the combination of a closed conduit located above the ground surface, having a discharge port, and projecting portions adjacent said port; a trolley structure mounted on and supported by said conduit for longitudinal movement thereon to said projecting portions; and a distributing chute supported by the trolley for receiving material delivered from said port, the connection between the trolley structure and chute being arranged to provide for adjustment of the chute, and being longitudinally offset relative to the supporting connections between the trolley and the conduit to provide for delivery of the material from the port into the chute when said supporting connections abut said conduit projections.

3. In a pressure transportation system for plastic concrete mixtures, a closed high pressure conduit having a discharge port; a trolley structure mounted on said conduit for longitudinal movements thereon; a distributing chute for receiving the mixture from said discharge port, said chute having a receiving hopper; a transverse brace member in said hopper; an eye carried by said brace member; and a hook swivelly carried by said trolley structure, for engagement with said eye, whereby said chute is mounted by said trolley for universal movements.

4. In a pressure transportation system for plastic concrete mixtures, a closed high pressure conduit having a discharge port; a trolley structure mounted on said conduit for longitudinal movement thereon; a distributing chute universally pivotally supported at one end by said trolley structure; and a vertically adjustable skid attached to the other end of said chute.

5. In a pressure transportation system for plastic concrete mixtures, a closed high pressure conduit having a discharge port; a trolley structure mounted thereon for longitudinal movement; a distributing chute carried by said trolley structure for receiving the mixture from said conduit; and a deflector also carried by said trolley, arranged to be so positioned relative to said discharge port as to deflect the mixture therefrom into said chute.

6. A trolley structure for pipe line concrete transportation systems, comprising a longitudinal member; a pair of spaced transverse members extending therefrom; and rollers carried by said transverse members, the rollers of one member being arranged to engage the top of a pipe section, and the rollers of the other member being arranged to engage the bottom of said pipe section.

'7. A trolley structure for pipe line concrete transportation systems, comprising a longitudinal member; and a pair of spaced transverse members extending therefrom, one of which is substantially c-shaped to extend partially around a pipe section and is provided with rollers arranged for engagement with the top of said pipe section, and the other of said transverse members carrying rollers arranged to engage the bottom of said pipe section.

8. A trolley structure for pipe line concrete transportation systems, comprising a longitudinal member; and a pair of spaced transverse members extending therefrom, one of which is substantially c-shaped to extend partially around a pipe section and is provided with rollers arranged for engagement with the top of said pipe section, and the other of said transverse members carrying rollers arranged to engage the bottom of said pipe section, each set of rollers being mounted on its member for oscillation about an axis parallel to the axis of said pipe section.

CHARLES I. LONGENECKER. 

